| 11 September 2023
US President Joe Biden has ignited a heated debate in India after disclosing that he raised concerns over human rights, civil society, and a free press during his recent meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Delhi. Biden's comments came during a press conference in Vietnam, where he is currently on an official visit following the G20 Leaders' Summit.
"I raised the importance of respecting human rights, the vital role of civil society, and a free press in building a strong and prosperous country with Mr. Modi. We got a lot of important work done," President Biden stated in Hanoi, reaffirming his commitment to core democratic values.
These remarks immediately generated controversy in India, with the opposition Congress party seizing the opportunity to launch an attack on Prime Minister Modi. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh took to social media, writing, "Na press conference karunga, na karne doonga (won't hold a press conference, won't let you hold one) has had no impact." Ramesh had previously accused Biden's team of not being allowed to interact with the media or take questions about the meeting with PM Modi following their bilateral discussions in Delhi.
In his tweet, Ramesh pointed out, "President Biden's team says despite multiple requests, India has not allowed media to ask questions of him and PM Modi after their bilateral meeting." He went on to add a sarcastic comment, saying, "President Biden will now take questions in Vietnam on September 11 from the media accompanying him. Not surprising at all. This is how democracy is done Modi-style."
The comments by President Biden underscore the importance of human rights, civil society, and press freedom in the global dialogue, particularly in the context of democratic values. However, they have also reignited a debate within India about how the government handles media interactions and questions concerning international meetings.
The Modi administration has yet to respond officially to these remarks, and it remains to be seen how this controversy will impact India's relationship with the United States and discussions about democratic values on the international stage.
As the debate continues to simmer, it is clear that the intersection of human rights, civil society, and press freedom will remain central to discussions between nations, raising important questions about the balance between national sovereignty and global expectations in the realm of democratic values.
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